Unilever has made the decision to “integrate” UK snack brand Graze into its broader operations. This move will result in the reduction of several jobs, affecting fewer than 60 out of approximately 90 office-based roles at the snack maker.
Five years ago, Unilever acquired the holding company behind Graze. Since then, Graze has been operating independently with its own teams, systems, and supply chain. However, Unilever has now chosen to fully incorporate the Graze brand into its portfolio of food brands, which includes popular products like Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Colman’s mustard.
According to a Unilever spokesperson, the decision to integrate Graze comes as the brand has seen significant growth in the grocery channel. As a result, the company aims to accelerate this growth by bringing Graze under its nutrition portfolio of brands.
Graze specializes in producing a variety of better-for-you snack products, such as oat bars, flapjacks, corn, and nuts. Earlier this year, Joanna Allen, a former executive at Graze and Unilever, was appointed as the CEO of Little Moons, a UK-based mochi dough ice-cream business.
In March, Unilever announced plans to separate its ice cream business from the rest of the company, with the goal of creating a more focused and flexible business. The company, known for brands like Ben & Jerry’s, intends to demerge the assets into a listed company as the most likely separation route.
Despite the demerger, Unilever has indicated that it will continue producing ice cream in Russia. This decision follows reports of the company’s intention to retain its Russian ice cream assets after the planned separation.
Overall, the integration of Graze into Unilever’s operations signifies a strategic step towards maximizing the brand’s growth potential within the food and beverage industry. Amid these changes, Unilever remains committed to supporting its teams through the consultation process over the coming months.
